Al Balad

1 I do call to witness this City; -

1 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Nay, I swear by this city -

1 La oqsimu bihatha albaladi

2 And thou art a freeman of this City; -

2 And thou art an indweller of this city -

2 Waanta hillun bihatha albaladi

3 And (the mystic ties of) parent and child; -

3 And the begetter and that which he begat,

3 Wawalidin wama walada

4 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle.

4 We verily have created man in an atmosphere:

4 Laqad khalaqna alinsana fee kabadin

5 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him?

5 Thinketh he that none hath power over him ?

5 Ayahsabu an lan yaqdira AAalayhi ahadun

6 He may say (boastfully); Wealth have I squandered in abundance!

6 And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth:

6 Yaqoolu ahlaktu malan lubadan

7 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him?

7 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him ?

7 Ayahsabu an lam yarahu ahadun

8 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? -

8 Did We not assign unto him two eyes

8 Alam najAAal lahu AAaynayni

9 And a tongue, and a pair of lips? -

9 And a tongue and two lips,

9 Walisanan washafatayni

10 And shown him the two highways?

10 And guide him to the parting of the mountain ways ?

10 Wahadaynahu alnnajdayni

11 But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep.

11 But he hath not attempted the Ascent -

11 Fala iqtahama alAAaqabata

12 And what will explain to thee the path that is steep? -

12 Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is! -

12 Wama adraka ma alAAaqabatu

13 (It is:) freeing the bondman;

13 (It is) to free a slave,

13 Fakku raqabatin

14 Or the giving of food in a day of privation

14 And to feed in the day of hunger.

14 Aw itAAamun fee yawmin thee masghabatin

15 To the orphan with claims of relationship,

15 An orphan near of kin,

15 Yateeman tha maqrabatin

16 Or to the indigent (down) in the dust.

16 Or some poor wretch in misery,

16 Aw miskeenan tha matrabatin

17 Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self - restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion.

17 And to be of those who believe and exhort one another to perseverance and exhort one another to pity.

17 Thumma kana mina allatheena amanoo watawasaw bialssabri watawasaw bialmarhamati

18 Such are the Companions of the Right Hand.

18 Their place will be on the right hand.

18 Olaika ashabu almaymanati

19 But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) Companions of the Left Hand.

19 But those who disbelieve Our revelations, their place will be on the left hand.

19 Waallatheena kafaroo biayatina hum ashabu almashamati

20 On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round).

20 Fire will be an awning over them.

20 AAalayhim narun musadatun